‘Negotiations are done,’ says Canadian official, in face of U.S. Democrats looking to reopen USMCA

By Neil MossJan. 16, 2019

New U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called the signed deal 'a deal in progress.'

Then-Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto, left, U.S. President Donald Trump, middle, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, celebrate the signing of the USMCA on Nov. 30 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but there is much work to be done before the trade pact will be ratified. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

As United States Democrats question if they will approve the re-negotiated NAFTA, a Canadian official says the deal has been signed and negotiations are over.

Gerald Butts has removed himself from the daily political grind of strategizing how to keep the Liberals in power. But observers say it's unlikely he will be consigned to watch the campaign unfold from the sidelines.

SNC-Lavalin risks a takeover if it's convicted. But aside from likely outrage in Quebec, Ottawa can find other builders for its infrastructure plans if the company is banned from bidding on federal contracts, experts say

The Quebec company had extensive access to government ministers and top staffers, and was the only organization registered to lobby for allowing deferred prosecution agreements for white collar crimes.